Filling and sealing machine



Sept. 9, 1.969 H. R. GARRETT ETAL 3,465,494

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Hon/42o E Ouai BY ALfer F Ell/AO Hou/42D 86422575 United States Patent O 3,465,494 FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Howard lR. Garrett, Woodstock, Albert F. Rhino, Crystal Lake, and Howard E. Olila, Woodstock, Ill., assignors to Haskon, Inc., Warsaw, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 4, 1967, Ser. No. 636,182 Int. Cl. B65b 51/14, 7/14; B67b 3/22 U.S. Cl. 53-168 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a filling and sealing machine for filling and sealing containers with a fluid and semifluid material. This improved filling and sealing machine is adapted to be used with varying sized and shaped containers having variably positioned and sized fill openings therein.

Apparatus for filling and sealing varying sized paper milk cartons are known and in use. Present trends in the packaging field for liquids, and in particular in the milk industry, have been directed toward the use of plastic containers or bottles. Such containers require specially designed filling and sealing machines to take care of the different sized openings through which the liquid is inserted into the container and special equipment for sealing the container, namely a capping mechanism. The present invention is directed to a machine which will fill and seal both paper cartons and plastic bottles interchangeably and selectively in various sizes of containers.

The present invention is an improvement over the Combined Paper Carton and Plastic Bottle Filling Machine disclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 524,518, filed Feb. 2, 1966, now Patent No. 3,383,829, issued May 2l, 1968, in the names of James M. Duddleston and Howard R. Garrett. The improvements to which the present invention is directed reside in the details of the mounting of the apparatus forming the major components of the machine, namely the fill tank assembly and its dispensing valve, the heater assembly, the flap fold assembly, the clamping jaws or sealing means for the paper cartons and the capping mechanism on the base of the structure. ln addition to these details, the invention includes the particular mounting of the guide support structure for the containers and its adjustability relative to the filling and sealing components to facilitate interchangeability in various paper cartons in various sizes and between plastic bottles and paper cartons. Plastic bottles, in addition, normally have off-center type openings which require special adjustment to the machine to accurately locate the conveying structure relative to the filling and sealing components of the filling machine. The same is true with the smaller cross-sectional cartons. The improved machine includes an adjustment for the conveying mechanism which will accurately center the particular type of carton used with respect to the dispensing valves and the capping or sealing jaws of the machine. The improved machine further includes a simplified arrangement for selectively connecting either the capping mechanism ICC or the clamping jaws for operation depending upon the type of container being filled and sealed. It also provides an arrangement by means of which the machine may be automatically loaded with paper cartons from a carton forming machine or a conveying mechanism carrying the plastic bottles and in this sense includes provisions for feeding the machine from two positions.

Therefore, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved filling and sealing machine for containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved filling machine which will handle various sized and shaped containers for proper filling and sealing.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a filling and sealing machine of this type an arrangement for adjusting the drive for the containers to accurately locate the container opening beneath the components of the filling and sealing machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in an improved filling and sealing machine of this type a drive arrangement which will minimize spillage by providing movement of the containers with a nonlinear velocity of movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filling and sealing machine of this type for universal application so that it may be used with a former and conveyor providing inputs to the same.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved lilling and sealing machine with a forming machine and a conveyor for plastic bottles shown in phantom.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the improved filling and sealing machine.

FIGURE 3 is a back elevational view of the improved filling and sealing machine with parts cut away to show the drive of the same.

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of another portion of the improved filling and sealing machine with parts broken away to show additional detail of the drive structure for the conveying apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the front end of a drive motor for the conveying apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the carton engaging structure of the conveying apparatus for the filling and sealing machine.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the irnproved filling and sealing machine taken -along the lines 7 7 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE S is another sectional view of a portion of the filling and sealing machine taken along the lines 8 8 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of the capping structure for the improved filling and sealing machine with parts broken away.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the filling and sealing machine showing the adjustable coupling between the drive motor and the conveying apparatus and taken along the lines 10-10 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view of the portion of a coupling of FIGURE 10 taken along the lines 11--11 in FIGURE l0 and FIGURE 12 is a schematic hydraulic circuit diagram showing the manual control for operation of the capping mechanism and sealing mechanisms respectively.

-Our invention in an improved filling and sealing machine is shown in FIGURE 1 in conjunction with a carton forming machine (shown at 12 in phantom) and a conveyor (shown at 14 in phantoim) as an indication of various sources of containers used on the filling and sealing machine. The details of such forming apparatus,

. or conveying apparatus, form no part of the present invention and are shown herein for illustration purposes only. The conveyor 14 may be attached to brackets mounted on the sealing machine or may be independent thereof. Similarly, the former is normally positioned adjacent the inlet end of the filling and sealing machine, as will be hereinafter identified, and is normally independent thereof, except for electrical circuit interconnection as is conventional with apparatus of this type for automatic control.

This improved filling and sealing machine includes a base structure 20 having a table top 22 upon which are positioned a plurality of upstanding frame members 24 to mount a pair of supporting rods 25, 26 which support the various components of the filling and sealing machine. Positioned between the upstanding frame members and beneath the rods 25, 26 is a conveying apparatus, indicated generally 30. This conveying apparatus includes a trough or track 32 and a supporting structure 34 for the same which support the cartons or bottles to be filled and sealed as they are moved along the surface of the machine. The advancing structure for moving such cartons or bottles includes an advancing or conveying structure indicated at 35 includes an angle brace 37 which has a plurality of carton engaging arms 36 thereon and which is operated by a pair of motor means positioned within the base 20, as will be hereinafter identified. Positioned above the conveying apparatus 30 and mounted on the rods 25, 26 are the plurality of components which make up the filling and sealing machine. One of these components is a reservoir tank 40 with dispensing valves 42 on the bottom side of the same which is carried by the rods 2S, 26 and positioned over the track or trough 32. Suitable mounting brackets 45 positioned on the rods 25, 26 mount the tank and a bracing structure 48 for the same. Positioned adjacent the fill tank 40 is a heater assembly, indicated generally at 50, with a suitable control 52 therein, the heater assembly being pivoted on the rod 26 and resting on the rod 25 such that it may be pivoted away from the track or tray when desired. The sectional view of FIGURE 8 shows the cross section of the structure in which the heater element 55 is mounted on a frame 56 which rests in part on the rod 25 and is pivoted on the rod 26.

As will be best seen in FIGURE 2, the control mechanism 60 for the fitting and sealing machine is supported on a flange section 62 attached to the upstanding frame members 24 behind the pair of rods 25, 26. Also, included on the rods are a pair of guide arms or rods 65 which are positioned below the heater assembly 50 and extend beyond the same to a clamping structure 70 mounted on the rods 25, 26. The guide arms fold the flaps of the paper cartons after heating and tempering so that they will be sealed by the clamping jaws of the clamping mechanism,

indicated at 72. In addition, a capping mechanism, indicated generally at 80, is positioned on the rods beyond the clamping mechanism, the capping mechanism being adapted to place a cap on a plastic bottle to close the same. Generally, these component parts of the filling and sealing machine effect filling and sealing of the paper cartons or the plastic bottles of varying sizes which are conveyed on the tray or track 32 of the conveying mechanism 30. Suitable switch feeling arms 78 attached to the rods below the dispensing valves provide a supervisory control on the same to prevent the cartons or containers from being filled in the event that no carton is positioned underneath the respective valve. Thus, as cartons are placed on the conveying mechanism 30, they advance down the track through movement of the arms 36 on the support brace 57 which moves or reciprocates with the operation of the conveying structure 35. Such containers will be moved with a stepped sequence of motion to a position beneath the dispensing valves where they will be filled. Depending upon whether the container is a paper carton or a plastic bottle, the heating mechanism 50 will be selectively energized and it will, when energized, apply heat to the open, exposed top flaps of the paper carton. The tempered plastic surface on the fiaps will be directed toward a closed position by the guide rails 65 and under the clamping mechanism 70 will be engaged by the clamping jaws 72 which come together to press the tempered top flaps of the carton to a closed position to seal the plastic carton. Whenever the container is a plastic bottle, the heating mechanism is deenergized and, preferably, pivoted out of the `way. The bottle type containers will clear the guide rails 65 and clamping mechanism 70 to be sealed by the capping mechanism 80 as it reaches that station.

At the opposite or output end of the table from the filler tank and adjacent the capping mechanism is a turntable mounted on a supporting structure 91 attached to the track or trough elevating mechanism 34 such that containers and bottles in a filled condition will be deposited thereon from the track and moved to a position where they can be removed manually for loading. Suitable guide rail means 94 attached to the opstanding bracket structure 24 at the back of the machine guides the cartons on the turntable.

To elevate the track or tray portion 32 of the conveying apparatus on the filling and sealing machine such as to elevate the cartons or containers thereon relative to the components of the filling and sealing machine mounted on the rods 25, 26, the adjustable supporting structure or shafts 34 are connected to rack mechanisms 96 and slidably mounted through journaling members 98 on the surface of the table with the racks extending within the table or base 20. In FIGURE 7, the elevated mechanism is shown in cross section. It includes a drive shaft 100 journaled in the face of the base 20 and having the handle 102 connected thereto and exposed on the front of the base with a worm gear 104 thereon. It is coupled with a drive gear 105 mounted on a second shaft 106 and driving a pinion 108 engaging the rack 96. The drive shaft 100 is journaled at its opposite extremity in a suitable aperture in a depending bracket 110 `attached within the base member to the underside of the table top or cover 22. The shaft 106 extends into two directions from the handle and drive shaft 100 and couples with the pair of racks and shafts 34 shown in FIGURES l and 2 as elevating the tray or track 32. The mounting arm 91 which supports the turntable 90 extends underneath the trays and is mounted on the shaft 34 being siutably secured thereto. Depending fianges on the undersurface of the trays and suitable removable pins 116 extend through cooperating apertures in the supporting bracket or member 91 and the trays at various locations along the extent of the same to permit removable connection of the track or tray from the supporting member and hence the shafts 34. Thus, whenever the elevating mechanism is operated to raise the track, the turntable 90 is also elevated through movement of the Supporting member 91 which mounts the same.

The drive portion of the conveying mechanism 35 which incorporates the arms 36 mounted on the angle support 37 is operated by a pair of drive motors which will best be seen in FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6. This drive portion is supported on the upper surface of the table through journaling blocks 120 which slidably mount an elongated shaft 12S, the shaft in turn mounting through connecting flanges 126 the angle iron support 37 for the arms 36. The connecting flanges are suitably secured to the shaft through screw means and a pressure clamping structure (not shown) and mounting bolts 127 secure the angle support to the flanges. The shaft is mounted for sliding movement in the journaling blocks 126 to advance and retract or oscillate the arms 36 and their support 37 relative to the tray or track structure 32 a predetermined distance. In addition, the shaft 125 is mounted for rotatable movement such that the entire assembly of the arms 36 and mounting support 37 may be rotated toward and away from the track to engage cartons and move them along the track for a predetermined distance and to clear the cartons as the conveying mechanism is rotated angularly on the shaft 125 for the purpose of bringing back the conveying mechanism to the start position. This rotative movement is provided by an actuator 130 which is positioned below and within the table and whose output shaft 132 extends up to and is connected to a forked yoke structure 133 and a pair of arms 134 which in turn are connected to the shaft 125 throu-gh a pressure type clamping structure (not shown). A tie rod 138 connects the arms 134, 135 and the yoke 133 provides the coupling with the end of the shaft 132 of the actuator so as to rotate the shaft 125 and hence rock the arms 36 through their support 37 toward and away from the rack or tray 32.

The longitudinal or sliding movement of the shaft is imparted by a rotary hydraulic motor 140 which is powered by or supplied with a source of fluid from a selfcontained motor driven hydraulic pump, indicated generally at 150. Its output lines 152 connect through control valves 154, 155 to the input of the motor with suitable limit arms 157, 158 associated with the control valves 154, 155 to reverse the direction of flow to the motor and hence cause oscillation of the same through 180 degrees rotation. An output arm 160 on the motor engages the control levers 157, 158 for the reversing action. In FIG- URE 5, the drive structure of the motor 140 includes a drive arm 162 coupled to the output shaft (not shown) of the motor at the opposite end from the lever 160 and through a pivot coupling member 163 to a shaft 164 leading to a coupling assembly 170 for the shaft 125.

AS Will be seen in FIGURE 4, this coupling assembly is coupled to the shaft 164 through a second coupling member 172 and a second shaft 175 journaled in a suitable bearing 176 mounted in the side of the base 20. The shaft section 175 is actually connected at its extremity through a nut and bolt connection 178 to an L shaped flange section 180 of the coupling assembly 170 which has an end portion 182 fitting around the shaft 125 and keyed therethrough through a pin 185. Suitable slots for -grooves in the shaft, as indicated at 188, permit relative adjustment of the shaft with the flange section 180. The sectional views and 11 show this adjustable connection. Pivotally mounted on the L-shaped ange section 180 is a pivoted lever member 190 which is pivoted as at 192 and connected at its opposite extremity to a second flange section 195. Section 195 is actually coupled to the shaft 125 through a nut 196 threaded onto a threaded portion 197 of the extremity of shaft 125. This second ange section 195 has an upper part 198 forming an end arm for the cartons or bottles to be received at the input end of the conveying system for the filling and sealing machine. It also has its upper deliecting plate section 199 which when used in conjunction with the forming machine insures that the cartons are seated properly on the conveying stray or track in the initial position. The parts 195 and 180 move relative to one another and suitable indicia markings 200 in the flange section 180 cooperate with the leading edge of the flange section 195 to provide an indication of relative positioning of the shaft 125 with the drive shaft 175. This will effect a change in the position of the conveying arms 36 for an initiating position or rest position of the conveying mechanism 35. Although the stroke of the conveyng mechanism or the length of step movement is not altered, the starting and ending positions will be altered by a change of the position between the shaft 125 and the shaft 175 so that cartons and bottles may be properly aligned in accord with size relative to the filling and sealing components on the filling and sealing machine. To effect such adjustment, the pin 185 is removed and the handle or adjusting lever 180 will move the shaft 125 in the journaling blocks 126 mounted on the table and hence the bracket or support 37 with the arms 36 thereon together with the ange 195.

The adjustment of the coupling section 170 between the drive motor 140 and the shaft 125 for longitudinal movement affects only the starting position and does not alter the speed or stroke of the motor. The latter is driven from the hydraulic source 150 and is reciprocated or oscillated through the reversing valves 157, 158 to provide a speed of movement for the shaft which is nonlinear. As will be seen from the coupling end of the actuator 140, in FIGURE 5, rotary motion of the lever 162 will move the coupling and shaft 163, 164 and hence the shaft 175 and through the coupling 170 the shaft 125 in a manner determined by the arcuate movement of the lever 162. Thus, the initial forward speed of the shaft 164 will be lowest at start of movement of lever 162 but will accelerate rapidly so that at the midpoint of the stroke the maximum velocity will be obtained and as the end of the stroke is approached as determined by the opposite limit switch, the shaft 164 and hence the driven shaft 125 will decelerate. This insures that the containers or bottles on the tray when engaged by the arms 36 will be initially slowly accelerated, reaching its highest rate of speed or movement at the midpoint of the stroke, and decelerating toward the end of the stroke. Such movement will minimize spillage of the filled bottles or containers while maintaining a maximum overall speed of movement of the containers on the filling and sealing machine.

The arms 36 describe a rectilinear or boxlike pattern of movement being first tilted into engagement with the respective containers on the tray or track through operation of the actuator which moves the supporting bracket 35 angularly relative to the shaft 125. When the arms are in position behind the respective containers on the tray or track, forward motion of the containers will take place through operation of the motor 140. The motor will operate through 180 degrees of rotation to provide a linear step of operation after which the actuator 130 will again be operated in a reverse direction rotating the arms 36 away from engagement with the containers or bottles. Once the arms and supporting structure 35 are rotated angularly relative to the shaft 125 to a maximum position as determined by the stroke of the actuatorv 130, the ends of the arms 36 will clear the cartons and reciprocation or reversal of direction of motion of the motor 140 will take place bringing the entire conveying assembly back to a start position. This sequence of operation will be repeated to provide the stepped sequence of movement of containers on the lling and sealing machine from a starting or receiving position to the filling apparatus and through the closure procedure which includes the heater and flap folding structure together with the clamping jaws in the case of paper cartons and omitting the same in the case of plastic bottles. In the case of plastic bottles, only the capping mechanism is energized and actuated whenever a container is beneath the same to apply a cap or closure member to the bottle sealing the same.

The capping mechanism is basically conventional and is operated through a hydraulic circuit from the source and lines 210 which lead to a diverting valve 220 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 12. The latter may be mounted within the base or enclosure or on top of the same adjacent the capping mechanism and clamping structure. This reversing or diverting valve 220 receives the supply through the conduits 210 and directs flow therefrom through the conduits 225 or 226 respectively leading to the clamping structure 70 and the capping mechanism 80. Whenever the handle 230 of the diverting valve is rotated to a predetermined position, one or the other of the closure apparatus will be operated. Thus, the clamping structure 70 will be operated when the handle 230 is in one position and the capping mechanism 80 will be operated when the handle 230 is in the opposite position. This diverting valve will direct flow of the hydraulic fiuid to the actuators 240, 244 associated respectively with the clamping structure 70 and capping mechanism 80. The hydraulic actuators are sequenced through control valves (not shown) included in the supply circuits 225 and 226 respectively and operated through automatic control with the overall control circuit 60 to provide the desired timing sequence with the operation of the motors 140 and 130 together with the operating mechanisms for the dispensing valves. These details are omitted for simplicity. The capping mechanism 80, as seen in FIGURE 9, include a slide 250 operated by an arm 255 which will engage the handle of a plastic bottle whenever one is beneath the capping mechanism allowing the exposed cap in the storage rack, indicated at 260, of the capping mechanism to be seated on top of the bottle and close the same. The entire assembly of the capping structure is oscillated up and down through the actuator 275 and guided by guide rods 270 in a conventional manner. In the absence of a bottle in this position as the capping structure is oscillated, the arm 255 will remain in a rest or biased position closing the bottom access opening for the cap storage rack 260 to prevent a cap from being discharged.

The improved filling and sealing machine is adapted for universal application, that is filling of all sizes of paper cartons and plastic bottles. Since cartons of Varying sizes and, in most instances, plastic bottles, have fill locations which vary with respect to the arms 36 or the conveying mechanism through which they are driven, it is necessary to adjust the conveying mechanism to properly align the respective type of container with the fill valves and the appropriate sealing and capping structures. In addition, it is necessary to elevate the tray or track with respect to the components of the filling and sealing machine for varying sized cartons and bottles. In the case of plastic bottles, the overall height is increased from that of the paper cartons and it is necessary to depress the tray or track such that the tops of the plastic bottles will clear the clamping mechanism 70 and closing flap guide rails 65 so that the bottles will be engaged only by the capping structure 80. Similarly, whenever small size paper cartons are used, it is necessary to elevate the tray or track with respect to the fill valves and with respect to the heating structure, the ap folding guides, and he clamping structure 70 or clamping jaws 72. This is effected by rotation of the handle 102 to elevate the shafts 34 and hence the trays or troughs 32 thereon. Further, when larger size containers or bottles are used, a particular size tray 32 may be removed by release of the pin 91 from the flanges 115 to remove the respective tray and a larger or smaller tray connected thereon as the case may be. Adjustmnet of the starting position of the conveying structure is effected by altering the coupling 170 with respect to the drive shaft 125 which will thereby shift the position of the drive shaft 125 relative to the motor shafts 175 and 164. This will properly position a paper carton or a plastic bottle with respect to the fill valves and closure structures associated therewith for proper filling and sealing. Such adjustment is effected by removal of the pin 185 and movement of the handle 190 to the proper indicia for the proper sized carton or container.

The improved drive structure provides for acceleration of the cartons from the rest position and deceleration to the stopping position with a maximum velocity of movement at the midpoint of travel to minimize spillage of the filled bottles. The control mechanism 60 whose details are omitted will provide a timing sequence for the operation of the dispensing valves and the clamping jaws or capping structure depending upon which is in use. In addition, switches, such as indicated generally at 260 on the control mechanism, will properly select the energizing control circuits for the respective actuators, the heater assembly, and the valving for the clamping structure 70 or the capping structure to be used with the particular type of containers to be filled. In addition, the control circuit will also provide for proper energization of the control means controlling the conveying mechanism. In addition, the switches will include the energization of the electric motor for the hydraulic 'system which will provide fiuid under pressure from a sump which will be valved by appropriate actuators in the operation of the drive units of the filling and sealing machine. The improved capping structure includes provision for a no cap, no bottle arrangement and appropriate feeler 78 beneath the dispensing valves provides a similar structure for a no bottle, no till arrangement.

This improved universal machine may be used in conjunction with a conveying apparatus and a carton forming machine to provide for dual inputY source of containers to the filling and sealing machine. Normally, plastic bottles are preformed and will be fed to the filling and sealing machine through the conveying mechanism, Such as is shown in phantom at 14. Paper cartons may be preformed and feed in a similar manner or may be supplied from a forming machine such as is shown at 12 in FIG- URE 1. The forming machine may be interconnected in a conventional manner with the control circuit 60` of the filling and sealing machine to proper sequence the operation of the same for automatic operation with the forming machine. Such a forming machine would discharge cartons to the conveying mechanism at the bracket to be engaged by the arms 198 to start the initial movement of the same on the track or trays 32.

In considering this disclosure, it is intended that the same be illustrative only and the scope of the invention be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1.. In a machine for filling and closing containers comprising:

a base, an elongated trough for supporting containers and for guiding containers endwise thereof, supporting means for supporting said trough above said base and providing for adjustment of said trough vertically relative to said base, and means for releasably mounting said trough on said supporting means for substituting one trough for another that is adapted to receive containers of a different width, conveying means for simultaneously advancing a plurality of containers step-wise along said trough in steps of equal length for positioning the same in a succession of filling and closing positions,

supporting structure on said base and including a pair of elongated rods of substantially uniform cross section disposed in spaced parallel relation in a plane spaced above and substantially parallel to said trough,

filling mechanism carried by said supporting structure and having valve means and controls therefor for dispensing material into containers on said trough in one or more filling positions,

and container closing means for closing filled paper cartons on said trough as they are advanced along said trough from said filling mechanism to successive closing positions, comprising a heating mechanism, Hap-folding mechanism and flap-sealing mechanism mounted on said rods for adjustment independently endwise of said rods and for pivotal movement of at least one of said mechanisms between operative and inoperative positions on said rods.

2. In a machine for filling and closing containers in accordance with claim 1 wherein the mechanism mounted for pivotal movement on said rods includes said heating mechanism.

3. In a machine for filling and closing containers in accordance with claim 1 having means for mounting a capping mechanism for applying caps to containers on said trough at a closing position beyond said Sealing mechanism in the direction endwise of said trough.

4. In a machine for filling and closing containers in accordance with claim 3 having manual control means connected to said sealing mechanism and said capping mechanism for selectively rendering the same operative for sealing paper cartons or applying caps to bottles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Egleston 229-43 Warner 53-201 Johnson 53-168 Terry 93-44 Garrett 93-44 X Austin 93-44.1 Egleston 93-44.1 X Duddleston 53-55 Mistarz 93-44 Great Britain.

U.S. C1. X.R. 

